ask. seek. knock.

Today Brother brought me the tin of mints that usually resides in my purse. He looked up at me with trust and hope and asked: "Min? Peeeeeesh?" (translated: "mint please") He clapped his hands with joy and anticipation as I opened the tin and gave him a mint. I love when my children make requests that I can grant, and I love seeing their unrestrained joy in the gifts I give them. As I savored the memory of this interaction with Brother, the following verses came to mind, made poignantly clear:

"Ask, and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives,

and he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Or what man is there among you who,

when his son asks for a loaf,

will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish,

he will not give him a snake, will he?

If you then, being evil,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father who is in heaven

give what is good to those who ask Him!"

(Matthew 7:7-11)

I am so thankful for a Father to takes delight in answering my hopes and dreams, fears and requests. How much worry I would save myself if I always remembered His love and His desire to hear me!

This lesson, which was so vividly real to me this morning was already fading to the back of my mind when I sat down to blog this afternoon. Next on my list of blog-posts-to-write was a review of the product featured in DaySpring's May (in)spired deals that I had been generously sent. I began the ho-hum task of meeting the reviewers' requirements: including the correct links, the header, the photo... I even began to type what would have become a rather stiff and mechanical little article when I actually stopped and looked at the photo of the product I had been sent.

(insert jaw drop and stunned pause)

I do not believe that it was coincidence that this month I was sent the beautiful carved Ask, Seek, Knock wall hanging or that I "happened" to be writing my review today. The truth upon which I was meditating this morning was driven home with new force. I am planning to hang this new art in our master bedroom. My hope is that as I see it each day I will be reminded of God's passionate and tender care for me, of how He wants to answer, reveal, and open for me as I ask, seek, and knock.

Today I am thankful to be reviewing the above product. It was sent to me for free so that I could review it, and all of the stuff I said about it is my own opinion.

bridal shower-the games and gifts

I can't rally take credit for the games since my mom and the bride-to-be's sister planned them, but since they were part of the bridal shower experience, I thought I'd tell about them anyway.

The first game was a bridal shower bingo game. There were the usual numbered squares as well as a numbered list of things about the bride, the groom, and the couple. For example, under Katie's name were things like "has a named car," "was born in [our town]," "is the youngest in her family." Under Jeff's name were things like "loves Mountain Dew" and "owns a business." Under Both were things like "has blue eyes," "loves to farm," "was born in the 80's," and "is a teacher." The goal was to find another guest who had one of those things in common with Katie, Jeff, or Both, and get them to sign the numbered square corresponding to the number of the item in the list. The first three people to finish won small prizes.

The second game was a simple word game: How many words can my make from the letters in "Katie Loves Jeff" in three minutes.

For the third game, 17 different herbs and spices were placed in unmarked, numbered jars. The jars were passed around, and the guests teamed up in groups of two to see how many they could correctly identify by smell, look, and even taste (watch out for the chili powder!) without the telltale labels. We actually had one team who correctly identified all 17!

After the games was present time! Jeff and Katie received many kind gifts, and they loved the calligraphy I made for them. Even though I wasn't surprised that they liked it, I still find myself glad and relieved.

(Isn't she cute!?!) Of course we had to make a rehearsal "bouquet" from the bows and all the gifts.

I had such a good time coordinating, planning, and making this bridal shower happen for sweet and special Katie. I enjoyed planning the decorations, making the food, interacting with the guests... It was so worth the achy feet and back at the end of the day.

bridal shower-the yummy food

Not only did Blogger's problems last week delay my posting plans, they also actually caused me to lose a post and several sweet comments on other posts. Losing the post and not being able to keep on my little schedule was very discouraging, so I just didn't post for a few days, leaving me even more behind. Sigh. Not to worry, though, I'm eager to make up for lost time today. : )

I'll begin by writing about the yummy food my mom and I made for my friend's bridal shower almost two weeks ago. The food just might be the most important part aside from the gifts, and I was determined to make it good. I had fun trying to stick to the color scheme of blues, pinks, and greens that I was aiming for. In addition to the coffee, pink lemonade, and vegetable tray with dip all of which I did not photograph, we had:

a cheese ball and crackers

(recipe coming soonish)

Mexican wedding cake cookies

(they were humorously appropriate for a bridal shower

that happened to be on Cinco de Mayo)

I got the recipe from The Joy of Cooking.

chocolate-mint brownies

(I tinted the white frosting green.)

strawberry cake balls

Since three of the four recipes I made were new to me, I was relieved that everything turned out beautifully as well as deliciously! There was an abundance of goodies so that I'm pretty sure no one left unsatisfied. I'd definitely call the treat part of the party a success!

monday menu

[chopped pecans]

Here is what I'm planning on cooking this week. What are you making?

M-roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetable

T-chicken pot pie

W-spicy mushroom pasta

Th-minestrone soup, fresh rolls

F-roast with caramelized-onion-balsamic reduction and vegetables (didn't get to it last week)

bridal shower-the cute decorations

Last week I had the joy of hostessing a bridal shower for a dear friend who is getting married this summer. I had so much fun planning the decorations and menu and was thankful for the bride-to-be's sister's and my mother's help with all the other stuff; it wouldn't have happened without them.

The next three days I'll highlight glimpses of the evening of fun. Today's photos will feature the decorations which I had tons of fun making. I tried to keep the wedding colors (dusty pink, sage green, and light blue) in mind as I planned.

tissue paper pom-poms

(thank you, Martha Stewart!)

scrapbook paper hearts

(inspiration found in two places)

garland featuring the happy couple's names

(accordion paper flowers + my own calligraphy letters)

simple food labels

(dollar bin stickers, card stock, and calligraphy)

sprinkles

when I was small

I loved sprinkles

I was convinced that they added instant

fun, glamor, and deliciousness

to whatever they touched

(yes, even the counter)

now, if possible

i enjoy them even more

as I watch the wonder and delight

in my sweet sons' every expression and action

as they discover sprinkle magic

while helping in the kitchen

monday menu

[parmesan curls]

It's been a few weeks since I have posted a Monday menu. This is not because I have not been planning my menu, but rather I've simply not gotten around to posting them here. I'm happy to remedy that today. Today is wet, chilly, rainy day, and the forecast for the rest of the week says that we'll just be having more of the same, so I've planned a week of warm, cozy meals. Perhaps, after all, spring/summer will finally kick into gear next week, and it'll be my last chance for a while to make cozy winterish meals. Hey, a girl can dream, right? : )

M-ginger-lime stir fry

T-dinner with friends (I'll be bringing a dessert which I have yet to choose.)

W-chili and fresh rolls

Th-chicken cacciatore and cauliflower

F-roast with potatoes, carrots, and maybe caramelized-onion-balsamic reduction

What are you making this week?

brief musings

I have had a lovely Mother's Day. I have gone to church with my special guys, been indulged with uncustomary Sunday morning photos, received extra hugs and kisses, been fed well, treated to a day off of nap police duties, and taken a lovely nap myself. It's been nice.

I have to say, though, that the best gifts are the ones I receive every day. I love being a Mama, and I love the every-day cuddles, readings, smiles, comfortings, and interactings. One specific daily gift that has been particularly delighting me lately is seeing the boys become better and better friends. We certainly have our moments of upheaval and stress as they don't get along, but overall, they are so sweet to each other. I take particular delight at this season in our lives in observing their bond strengthen every day. I'm so thankful to have a front row seat to watch what I, as an only child, never experienced!

pretties

Almost from the moment I joined Etsy, I knew it was only a matter of time until I found art prints that I just had to purchase (earrings are different since the ones I choose are usually quite a small investment). Last week the time came. I made the plunge and purchased three of Naokosstoop's charming art prints (wow, was it hard to choose just three!) to hang in Sweet Pea's nursery nook. There was simply no way I could resist...

I have loved Naokosstoop's images since the first time I saw them, because when I look at them I am transported back to the days when I was small, lost in a lovely and happy world of imagination, always in motion, and always accompanied by my faithful Bobbie Bunny, one of the few constants in a childhood full of change. It is as if I am looking at myself. Feeling like my childhood, a piece of me, is being expressed so poignantly and clearly by someone I have never met is a rather eerie experience. I guess it's all part of the beauty of communication through art.

As I deliberated about which prints I was going to choose, it became clear to me that I should theme Sweet Pea's nursery-nook around the art I loved so much. I have many ideas fermenting in my brain, but so far the only one I have acted on is purchasing three pieces of fabric for making pillows and curtain accents.

I still can't believe that I chose a paisley print, but somehow it just seemed to fit, and I just love how these three fabrics and the art work together. I have a few more projects that I need to finish before working on the nursery-nook. I'm eager to start, but until that time comes I'm quite content with looking at and enjoying the unassembled pretties.

baby bibs

This week my big project has been finishing the details of and hostessing a bridal shower for a good friend. In addition, I have been attending to the grind-y parts of business: packaging and shipping orders, corresponding about payment options/problems with Paypal, giving estimates for custom work, and communicating with photography clients. Whew. Plus I had the opportunity to spend most of one day doing stuff with my husband (attending a presentation by an intern he's been supervising, eating out for lunch, doing some shopping...who could pass up an offer like that?). All that to say that I've had a full and busy week, though I haven't done a lot of serious crafting.

Last week, however, I was able to complete a small alteration job (not so interesting that I took the time to photograph it), make a bit of progress on Brother's big boy quilt, and sew a pair of bibs for my new niece. I love making upcycled denim bibs; they're inexpensive, adorable, and practical (stains hardly show, and they are very durable). The backs of these particular bibs is a sparkley pink and purple stripe print. The front of one is decorated with a trio of pink and purple appliquéd hearts, and the other with white rick-rack and pink and purple flower buttons.

(Sadly, the lighting was poor, and you can't see just how cute the pinks and purples were.)

I was delighted to be able to package the bibs up along with the blanket and hat I had made and four tiny flower hair clips and to send them off for my brother- and sister-in-law to use when their little one arrives. It has to be one of the most satisfying sensations to gift things I have made lovingly with my own hands.

Linking up with Jennifer's Studio Sneak Peek today. (Hooray! I actually wrote my sneak peak friday post on Friday this week!) : )